Young Scholar Awards 2026
Enter your GIS Project now to win the ultimate GIS experience.
Share your one page poster of your GIS project and you could meet your fellow GeoGeeks at the 2026 Esri User Conference. Hear from GIS innovators, world leaders, industry trend-setters and engaging activities (T’s and C’s apply).
Competition Details
The Esri Young Scholars Award (YSA), established in 2012, celebrates outstanding achievements in geospatial sciences by undergraduate and graduate students from universities around the world. Organised by Esri, the program highlights innovative and socially impactful student projects that demonstrate the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the ArcGIS technology suite.
The competition is open to students aged 30 or younger who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a geospatial-related field at a recognised academic institution. Eligible entries include GIS-related projects, applications or research papers that are either socially relevant or technically innovative and must have been completed using ArcGIS software.
The entry deadline is 28 March 2026.
Competition Details
The Esri Young Scholars Award (YSA), established in 2012, celebrates outstanding achievements in geospatial sciences by undergraduate and graduate students from universities around the world. Organised by Esri, the program highlights innovative and socially impactful student projects that demonstrate the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the ArcGIS technology suite.
The competition is open to students aged 30 or younger who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a geospatial-related field at a recognised academic institution. Eligible entries include GIS-related projects, applications or research papers that are either socially relevant or technically innovative and must have been completed using ArcGIS software.
The entry deadline is 28 March 2026.
How to Enter
Fill out the online entry form below and upload your project as a one-page PDF poster summarising your GIS project.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on creativity and innovation, real-world relevance, and effective use of Esri technology.
Prize and Recognition
The winning student will receive an all inclusive and fully paid trip to attend the 2026 Esri User Conference in San Diego, California (14–18 July 2026).
Past Winners and Experiences
Past winners share why they entered the Young Scholar Awards and the benefits they have gained from doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Find out about any of our FAQ’s.
Map Gallery
View examples of our past YSA winner posters here.
Enter Here
Tell us about yourself and attach your one page poster.
